A unique view of the champs lyses the worlds most beautiful avenue the arc de triomphe was begun in 1806 on the orders of napoleon i to honour the victories of his grande arme inspired by the great arches of antiquity the monument combines the commemorative with the symbolic and it has always played a major role in the national republican consciousness every evening the flame is lit on the tomb of the unknown soldier from the great war an exhibition portrays the history and expla